National Show Horse and Rider Champs

Stacey Faehrmann represented South Australia in the Something Orange Photography Junior Rider Championship.

Successful NSW rider, Billie McEvoy (no relation to the Victorian McEvoy's) took out the Something Orange Photography Junior Rider Reserve Championship.

Alana Clapperton represented New Zealand in the Something Orange Photography Junior Rider Championship.

Victoria representative, Abby Heffer from Wallan put on a super riding display to claim the Something Orange Photography Junior Rider Championship.

Tess Hughes from South Australia had just a few days to become accustomed to her new horse, 'Chicago' before riding him in the Something Orange Photography Junior Rider Championship. Chicago by the Warmblood stallion, Medallion out of a Thoroughbred mare was purchased from Paul Austin and Tess looks to have a bright future in front of her with the beautiful, well educated horse.

Young Queensland rider, Beau Cunning has had great success at the Nationals over the years. Junior Champion Rider in 2005 and 2006, Beau has now claimed back to back Intermediate Rider Championships, claiming the Douglas Family Intermediate Rider title today.

Georgina Gray represented Tasmania in the Something Orange Photography Junior Rider Championships.

A delighted Amanda Reid representing NSW took out the Douglas Family Intermediate Rider Reserve Championship.

Breanna Foster rode her , 'Mondiso Park Peeping Tom' for South Australia in the Wagners Master Saddlers and Equestrian Tailors Small Pony Championship.

The McMahon and McCormick Families' 'Silkwood Angel Wings' was pre post favourite to win the Wagners Saddler and Equine Tailors' Small Pony Championship and she did not disappoint. With Holly Lewis in the saddle, Angle Wings put on her now characteristic brilliant and still enthusiastic display to claim back to back titles. Angle Wings again took out the Leading Rein /Small Pony double for Victoria.

Margot Haynes rode Angelene Penalurick and Chris Lawrie's, 'Kolbeach Be Free' (Fernleigh Fine Print/Highmead Fancy Free) to take out the Horse Deals Large Pony Championship for South Australia.

South Australian combination, 'Holly's Plays' (Fairly Tempest/Gem Stone) are pictured working out in the Horse Deals Large Pony Championship.

Bridgette Chalmers rode Jordan McDowall's well performed and beautifully presented, 'Westlake Hummingbird' (Rothwell Toy Town/Willowcroft Hill Song) for Queensland in the Horse Deals Large Pony Championship.

Elyse Douglas from Queensland knows she is on a good thing. And she certainly is. She rode her super successful Victorian bred pony, 'Mirinda Touch of Mink' (Ninfield Minks Supreme/Mirinda Dresden) to claim the Horse Deals Large Pony Reserve Championship.

Hannah Wright and her 'Tungarra Gay Forever' (Jackets Bluebird/Tungarra Gay Design) represented Tasmania in the Horse Deals large Pony Championship.

Linda Hayes put in a super performance for Victoria in the Horse Deals Large Pony Championship with Graham Elliott's foot perfect and well performed, 'Kolbeach Promise' (Fernleigh Fine Print/County Cover Girl).

Michael Morton-Beetham represented New Zealand in the Re Launch Women's Clothing Senior Rider Championship.

Tasmanian representative, Claire Deavin is no stranger to the Nationals. The talented and stylish rider won the Intermediate Championship in 2003 and this year rode Sara Love's wonderful . 'Tullock Ard' to take out the Re Launch Women's Clothing Senior Rider Reserve Championship.

Danielle Zeiser added to the strong Tasmanian push in the Re Launch Women's Clothing Senior Rider Championship.

The beautifully presented, always elegant and delighted Rebecca Farrow claimed the Re Launch Women's Clothing Senior Rider Championship for Victoria.

Kim Durante as is so often the case, "came, saw and conquered" to claim the Lotus Institute Galloway Championship for Queensland riding her very well preformed, 'Willowcroft Regal Winter' (Urubula Regal Promise/Willowcroft Winter).

Sally Watkins rode her 'Corumbene Colours' (Syon Splendour/King Lodge Country Classic) for Victoria in the Lotus Institute Galloway Championship.

Darryl Hayes and 'Wesswood Royal Caste' by Bolagamy Valour out of three time National Galloway Champion, Pure Caste. put their best foot forward during the Lotus Institute Galloway Championship. Ashley Reid's Galloway claimed the Reserve Championship.

Tania Hay took out the Omega Feeds Small Hack Reserve Championship with her lovely former Barastoc Champion Hack, 'Consequence'.

Courtney Christie claimed back to back Omega Feeds National Small Hack Championships with her own and Stephen Merry's beautiful and well named, 'Magnifique'.

Over the last couple of years we have seen Chris Lawrie's 'Black Tie' absoutly bloom. The Desert King gelding came from behind to take out the Reserve Championship last year, but was at short odds to go all the way at Werribee on the week end. A very polished performance to the tune of Peter Allen singing, "I Still Call Australia Home", the popular horseman from South Australia claimed the Decron Horse Care Large Hack Championship.

New Zealand combination, Narasha Otto with Ron Sounders', Grosvenor gelding, 'Regal Romar' produced a super workout during the Decron Horse care Large Hack Championship. The well bred black horse looked magnificent as did all the exhibits at the Nationals; they wew absoutely gleaming.

Francesca Christie rode Stephen Merry's outstanding and exquisite, 'SLM Mind Games' to take out the Decron Horse Care Large Hack Reserve Championship. The Champion and Reserve titles were in reverse order to last year and it must have been a close decision.

Looking rather like one imagines Rebecca de Winter, National Judge, Deborah Bell sent the elegance scale sky rocketing as never before in the Werribee "tin shed". A formal evening indeed!

"She who must be obeyed", in the nicest possible way of course. Melinda Ralph was one of an outstanding National organising committee that created a super, friendly and well organised horse show and the best Nationals ever.